Cape Verde Mourns: Fogo Bus Crash Toll Rises to 25
The President of Cape Verde, José Maria Neves, is traveling to Fogo island today to join Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho following a devastating bus accident that has claimed at least 25 lives.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday when a bus transporting students on an excursion veered off the road and plunged approximately 30 meters down a ravine in the Campanas de Cima area, located in the municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo. According to a statement from the Presidency, the Head of State intends to “personally express his solidarity with the affected families” and monitor the emergency support measures being mobilized by authorities.
Young Victims and Medical Emergencies
Early reports on Saturday night confirmed 22 fatalities, but São Filipe Mayor Nuías Silva reported today that the death toll has risen to 25. The accident left 18 others hospitalized, with victims ranging in age from just six to 11 years old. Four of the survivors remain in serious condition.
To assist overwhelmed local health services, a specialized medical team is flying in from the capital, Praia, to reinforce the response at the island’s medical facilities.
A Community in Mourning
The island has descended into a period of deep mourning. Seven of the victims were buried overnight, and a mass funeral was scheduled for Sunday morning at the São Lourenço cemetery following a commemorative mass. The São Filipe Municipal Council has declared two days of official municipal mourning and will hold an extraordinary meeting today to discuss financial and emotional support for the bereaved families.
José Pedro Gonçalves, the Ministry of Education delegate in São Filipe, clarified that the excursion was not an official school-sanctioned event. Instead, the trip was an annual tradition organized by the bus driver for the students he transported throughout the school year.
National Leaders Offer Support
President Neves offered his deepest condolences to the families and wished a “speedy recovery to the injured.” Prime Minister Carvalho echoed these sentiments, praising the tireless work of rescue teams, police, and healthcare professionals who have been working through the night.
Local authorities, including the National Police and Volunteer Municipal Firefighters, remain on-site to coordinate relief efforts and investigate the cause of one of the deadliest road accidents in the island’s recent history.
Image: Pexels – Bibi Kiekens
